What was 'comic' about Aristophanes' comedies? For those approaching Aristophanes without a knowledge of Greek, this companion to Alan Sommerstein's Penguin translation of Aristophanes' Clouds, Acharnians and Lysistrata is the perfect introduction.

Sir Kenneth Dover's companion to Clouds and Simon Tremmewan's to Acharnians and Lysistrata provide an insight into the characteristically Greek elements of comedy which can be lost when reading in translation. They also address the serious issues and criticisms which Aristophanes presents all the more effectively through comedy, and give interesting notes on the treatment which the translation gives to the original Greek.

Sir Kenneth Dover is Professor Emeritus of Greek in the University of St. Andrews and former President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, UK.

Simon Tremewan is a teacher of Classics, formerly at Epsom College, Surrey, and Sherbourne, UK.